Happy New Year!

Miyuki's Crush

Hotaru and Miyuki were sparring in the training gardens again during their lunch break.

"How did you swipe the katana this time?" Hotaru asked in amusement as she ran her fingers over the wooden sword.

"Since my first date went so well with Hoshi I thought why not a second date?" Miyuki grinned. Hotaru's jaw dropped. Literally.

"Eh!? You're going on a date with him again?" Hotaru asked. Miyuki rested the wooden katana on her shoulder and nodded.

"Miyuki, what if Hirako-taicho catches you?" Hotaru asked sarcastically. Miyuki stuck her tongue out.

"Come on, I'm an adult already! I can do whatever I wish!" Miyuki huffed. Hotaru rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, you're an adult and Hoshi and I are not," Hotaru replied.

"Just because you are nineteen years old doesn't mean you're not an adult," Miyuki corrected, "we're not in the real world anymore, Hotaru."

"Yeah well, to me it still counts," Hotaru replied as she swung the sword a few times to test it, "besides, my Jii-chan says I'm still a child."

"Pfft, he is your grandfather, all grandparents say that."

Hotaru chuckled and stretched her arms above her head. Then the two girls got into their fighting stances.

"I'm not going lightly on you today," Hotaru warned.

"Me neither."

Emiko walked up to her two friends who has just begun their sparring match and was swinging their katana around and blocking attacks. Emiko smiled and sat down against a nearby tree trunk and opened her new book she got from the library.

A few minutes later Emiko noticed that students were running towards the entrance of the school building. Emiko raised an eyebrow.

Hotaru and Miyuki noticed it too since everyone was screaming like fangirls. Or fanboys. Hotaru and Miyuki walked up to Emiko.

"What's going on?" the two asked in unison as they breathed heavily. Sweat was running down their foreheads. Emiko looked at them and shrugged.

When Hoshi came running past, Emiko immediately stopped him.

"Hoshi, what the hell is going on?" Emiko asked. Hoshi looked at her as if she was the most idiotic person in the world.

"Didn't you hear partner? They say a taicho and his vice-captain came down from Seireitei!" Hoshi exclaimed and then he ran off again. Emiko, Hotaru and Miyuki's eyes widened.

"A taicho?" the three yelled in unison. Immediately the three ran towards the entrance to have a look.

When Hotaru, Emiko and Miyuki reached the entrance to the Academy grounds there were already so many students bunched up together in two rows leaving a walkway open for the taicho to pass through. Emiko, Miyuki and Hotaru had to push their way through to the front since they were shorter than the guys who were at the back.

"Ow, stop pushing me!" Emiko groaned.

"I'm not pushing you!" Miyuki objected as the squeezed their way through all the bodies. Hotaru and Emiko reached the front first. Both girls' eyes widened at what they saw.

Two men were walking down the walkway. In front was a man half-slouching, his hands in his pockets. His long blonde hair rested on his shoulders and his hazel eyes looked bored. He had on a standard captain's haori. Behind him walked a man with shaggy brown hair, a Fukutaicho insignia around his arm and his brown eyes hidden behind black rimmed glasses. Unlike the captain he actually looked entertained, kind and well……more sociable.

Hotaru couldn't believe her eyes! The blonde Shinigami all this time was a taicho!?

Miyuki still struggled through the crowd to get to the front. Suddenly out of nowhere a force pushed her forward. Just as she reached the front she fell over her own two feet and fell right in the middle of the pathway just in front of the taicho who was walking lazily. He stopped when he saw a girl with toffee colored hair trip in front of him.

The crowd immediately went dead quiet. Well, she did kind go and fall in front of one of the thirteen strongest men in Soul Society. It was something to be ashamed off. The brown haired Fukutaicho stopped behind his taicho and was about to step up and tell the girl to move but when she looked up and her eyes widened to dinner plates he kind of felt sorry for her.

Shinji stood there in utter silence and shock. A million different emotions washed over him right at that very moment.

"Miyuki?" he asked as if he was wary if this toffee head really was the girl he used to see at his favorite tea house.

Miyuki sat there in shock. He was here! Right in front of her very eyes!

"H-H-Hirako-taicho!?" she finally managed to blurt out. The Fifth Division captain smirked and pulled his one hand out of his pocket and held it out to help the poor girl up. She took his hand while her ace turned crimson and stood up.

The crowd watched the scene in amazement. The taicho didn't get pissed off? He actually knew her name?

Hotaru stood there in utter terror. He was…..he was…..he was Hirako Shinji? The man Miyuki loved. Hotaru suddenly felt a pang of anger and jealousy tug at her heart. She clenched her fist and bit her lip. She couldn't stand watching this scene play out before her.

"Taicho, we should be heading ba-"Aizen began to say but was cut short.

"Shaddup Sousuke, all yer ever do is order me around, I'm the taicho ere' ya know," Shinji hissed. Aizen shut his mouth and bowed his head in respect.

"My deepest apologies, sir," Aizen muttered. Shinji snorted and let go of Miyuki's hand. Miyuki's heart was beating at a super fast rate. She couldn't believe that after all these years she found him! She thought she would have to wait until she had graduated.

Hotaru couldn't watch the scene any longer so she turned on her heel and tried to run but it didn't work out so well due to the crowd. Hotaru cursed under her breath and squeezed her way through.

Shinji caught a glimpse of long blonde hair from the corner of his eye. He turned to get a better view only to see a familiar figure run away from the scene. Shinji wondered why the girl was so hasty to suddenly leave.

All well, he might just as well hang out with Miyuki for awhile. After all, he hasn't been to the tea house in a few years.

When Hotaru ran off she climbed a large cheery blossom tree to hide from anyone who might possible have followed her. A cool and gentle breeze rustled the leaves and flowers above Hotaru's head.

She didn't understand why she felt this way…..why was she jealous of Miyuki? Miyuki was her best friend wasn't she? Emerald green orbs looked down in shame at two small petite feet. She was acting like a spoiled little brat.

"No you're not."

Hotaru's eyes snapped up. Again? That strange and gentle female voice was talking to her again! Hotaru gulped, the first time the voice spoke to her was back when she was fighting Enju in Kendo class. What if the voice makes her become wild and go on a fighting spree again?

The voice chuckled: "I'm not the one who made you blood thirsty."

Hotaru frowned. What other voice could it have been? Hotaru closed her eyes and tried to remember the voice she heard first. Although they sounded the same there was something different now that she thought about it.

The one voice was deep, feminine and demanding. The other one was soft, feminine and almost protective?

"That's right."

'Who are you? And what do you want from me?' Hotaru asked herself. An uncomfortable silence followed. The voice never replied. Was Hotaru going mad? Perhaps she has officially gone insane….

Hotaru let out a heavy sigh and rested her head against the tree trunk. She closed her emerald green orbs and let the solitude of being alone calm her. The breeze gently whipped her long blonde locks against her face but Hotaru ignored the tickling feeling. Soon, Hotaru felt herself drift off into the world of dreams.

It was cold. For some reason Hotaru felt cold embrace her body. A shiver rolled down her spine. A small and cold dot landed on Hotaru's face causing her cheek to tingle. Large emerald orbs fluttered open slowly. Her thick black lashes kissed her cheekbones as she blinked a few times.

The sky was an unbelievable bright blue. If the sun was shining, why did Hotaru feel so chilled to the bone? Hotaru slowly sat up, it wasn't an easy feat since her limbs were numb from the cold. Her clothes felt heavy and wet and clung to Hotaru's skin like she was a magnet.

The world around her she has never seen before in her life. Everything was covered in thick white snow. No wonder she was so cold, she's been lying in snow all this time! Hotaru scanned her surroundings with her eyes. It seemed to be a pine forest, except it didn't look familiar. All the tall green pine trees were covered in white snow.

There was no one around.

"I see you're finally here," a female voice said. Hotaru's eyes widened. It was the same voice she head earlier when she was still sitting on the tree trunk! Hotaru slowly turned her body but winced whilst doing so. It felt like hundreds of pins and needles were being poked into her at once. Hotaru looked up into beautiful reddish pink orbs.

The woman standing in front of Hotaru swept her breath away. On her head were layers of sweet curled candy floss white hair. Reddish pink orbs were kissed by thick black lashes; her cheeks flushed pink and her skin a pale ivory. Around her neck was a golden chain carrying a golden key. The woman had on a snow white Furisode that covered her feet completely. A polite smile was playing on the woman's lips.

"W-who are you?" Hotaru managed mutter as she tried to form words on how to explain this goddess that stood in front of her. The woman's smile only broadened as she took a step closer to Hotaru, a crunch could be heard in the snow as the woman moved gracefully – almost as if she was dancing ballet.

"Why, I am _____" the woman replied as her voice went into a squirmed muffle. Hotaru frowned. What did the woman say was her name? 'I can't hear her….'

Hotaru moved her legs to try and stand up but for some reason her legs would not budge. Hotaru panicked. Did she injure herself? Slowly Hotaru tried to push herself up from the ground by using her fists. Her legs still, would not budge. She looked up at the woman questioningly. The woman's smile never faded.

"What do you want from me?" Hotaru asked as she started to feel intimidated by the woman's permanent smile. The woman took another few steps forward until she was almost in front of Hotaru. She kneeled down in front of Hotaru so she could look her in the eye.

"I am you, and you are me," the woman replied as she reached out and placed her freezing cold hand against Hotaru's cheek. Hotaru felt a strong pulse of reiatsu flow through her from the moment the woman touched her. A lump formed in her throat and a bead of sweat appeared on her forehead. This woman was not someone to be messed with. Her Reiryoku level was high, Hotaru could feel it.

"W-where am I?" Hotaru stuttered. The woman moved her hand from Hotaru's cheek down to her neck, further down until she reached her right arm. Hotaru swallowed the lump in her throat as she watched the woman slide her hand under her kosode and shitagi. Hotaru wished she could pull away…..but for some reason she could barely even feel her own fingers.

"You feel it, don't you? This burning sensation of power," the woman said calmly as she pulled down Hotaru's Shihakusho's sleeve. Hotaru felt like she was going to throw up. The woman smiled wider and trailed a pattern with her finger right underneath Hotaru's shoulder.

"The Kanji for Spirit," the woman whispered. Hotaru's eyes widened and she looked down at her arm and sure enough, there on her arm was a black tattoo of the Kanji "Seishin" (spirit). Hotaru stared at the tattoo in disbelief while the woman trailed her finger over it.

"W-where did that come from?" Hotaru stuttered after struggling for quite awhile. The woman smiled showing her teeth this time.

"It's been there ever since you were a baby, Hotaru," the woman replied. Hotaru blinked. What was the woman talking about? Hotaru hasn't ever seen it on her before! And she certainly wasn't planning to get a tattoo any time soon. The woman pulled away and stood back up again. Hotaru pulled up her sleeve as quickly as she could.

"Remember this, Hotaru," the woman warned as she slowly started to denigrate into dust, "that seal is proof that you are the one."

Before Hotaru had the chance to ask the woman what she meant the woman vanished as the dust got carried away by a light breeze of sudden cold wind. Hotaru suddenly felt her eye lids become heavy and then she collapsed into the freezing cold snow.

CRASH!

"Owwww!" Hotaru groaned as she sat up and rubbed her head. She looked around her. She was back at the academy! She looked up; she must have fallen out of the tree just now where she fell asleep.

Wait….fell asleep? Hotaru's eyes widened. That was a dream she just had? But it felt so real! Hotaru pulled down her Shihakusho sleeve and looked at her upper right arm. The tattoo for "Seishin" was gone. Hotaru sighed of relief.

"It was just a dream!"

Hotaru stood up quickly and stretched her limbs. Sleeping in a tree probably wasn't the best idea. Her back hurt as hell now. Hotaru sighed and dusted off her uniform. She might as well get back to the dorm, school is probably over anyway. Dammit, she missed Kendo! All well, just one lesson won't hurt.

Hotaru ran around the building to get to the front instead of going through the building itself. It was dead silent compared to when it was school hours. When Hotaru reached the front she slowed down and started walking slowly towards the gate. She wasn't in a rush to get back to the dorm so maybe she should stop by the market on her way back?

Hotaru looked up at the sky, the sun was already setting so the sky cascaded different shades of pink, purple and orange. It was the most beautiful sight Hotaru has ever seen. Hotaru closed her eyes and took in a deep breath and exhaled.

"Why don't we go get something to eat?" Hotaru heard a familiar female voice ask. Her eyes snapped open and she turned her gaze to where the talking came from. Hotaru's eyes narrowed when she saw Miyuki drag Hirako-taicho by the wrist out the school gate. She was having a hard time since Hirako-taicho seemed to be holding back for some reason.

Miyuki turned around revealing a large smile on her face, her eyes were sparkling and her lips seemed more…..kissable? Hotaru tried not to gag. She understood that Miyuki liked Hirako-taicho and all but……acting like a complete freak to impress him? Not so nice.

"Sorry, I got paperwork to do," Shinji apologized. Anger flashed through Miyuki's eyes.

"Aw, come on, Hirako, we haven't seen each other in years!" Miyuki whined and she latched herself to Shinji's arm. Shinji looked at her from the corner of his eye. Dammit, the chick was getting on his nerves. In a few years she sure changed…..a lot. She used to be a shy and distant girl. Now? She's a loud mouthed bitch. That's how Shinji would put it. She was practically throwing herself at him.

"Sotaicho will get angry at me, ya know?" Shinji tried to turn her down but she didn't bat an eyelash.

"Pfft, let him get angry, I'll get Hotaru to bribe him or something," Miyuki said as she batted her eyelashes and purposely brought her face closer to Shinji's. Now this was going too far.

Aizen Sousuke who was watching the scene from a little bit away sighed. He has followed the two around all day and his feet were sore from the constant torture the toffee head girl put him through. She even made him make her tea! What does he look like? Some servant?

Hotaru has over the entire few minutes she watched Miyuki flirt with Shinji started to grow veins all over her forehead. She has had enough of this! She's going to give Miyuki a piece of her mind! Hotaru stomped her way over to the toffee head and blonde head and stopped in front of them, her arms crossed. She tried to smile but it didn't work out that well.

"Hey, Miyuki" Hotaru greeted as nicely as she could. Miyuki glared at Hotaru for interrupting her but smiled a fake smile.

"Hey, Hotaru, what brings you here? You skipped Kendo," Miyuki asked.

"Yeah, I needed some time to think, say how about the two of us go and have some Okonomiyaki?" Hotaru suggested. She glanced at Shinji who gave her a silent thank you. He unlatched himself from Miyuki's grasp and laughed as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Now that's a good idea, I really need to do paperwork," Shinji laughed. Miyuki didn't look happy but she sighed in defeat and mumbled a "fine" after awhile. Hotaru grinned and grabbed Miyuki's arm and dragged her off to the market.

Shinji watched them leave and Aizen walked up to his captain.

"That girl is rather interesting, don't you think Taicho?" Aizen asked.

"Who? Miyuki?" Shinji asked. Aizen shook his head.

"No, the other one," Aizen corrected. Shinji fell silent for a few seconds.

"Yeah, she's interestin' ol'right."